What are the differences between the delta and mu variants of COVID-19?
What are the differences between the delta and mu variants of COVID-19?
The highly infectious delta variant is twice as contagious as previous variants. It was first identified in India in December of 2020. Mu was first detected in January 2021 in Colombia. Mutations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have been emerging since the pandemic began.
What is the who definition of a variant?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines as the following: Variants of Concern: According to the WHO, a variant of concern contains changes that have resulted in one or more of the following: reduced efficacy of treatments or vaccine, increased disease severity, and increased spread from person to person.
What is the a variant being monitored?
A Variant Being Monitored is a strain that has developed specific genetic markers associated with changes that reduce the effectiveness of antibodies generated against previous infection or vaccination, reduce efficacy of treatments, or increase transmission or disease severity.
What is a variant of concern?
Variants of Concern: According to the WHO, a variant of concern contains changes that have resulted in one or more of the following: reduced efficacy of treatments or vaccine, increased disease severity, and increased spread from person to person.
What is a variant of a virus called?
Viruses constantly change through a process called mutation. When a virus has one or more new mutations, it’s called a variant of the original virus. Since SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was discovered, there have been hundreds of variants identified and described.
When should you take a COVID-19 antibody test after having an infection?
After infection with the COVID-19 virus, it can take two to three weeks to develop enough antibodies to be detected in an antibody test, so it’s important that you’re not tested too soon.
Is antibody testing recommended after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Antibody Testing Is Not Currently Recommended to Assess Immunity After COVID-19 Vaccination: FDA Safety Communication. For the most-up-to date information on SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing see Antibody (Serology) Testing for COVID-19: Information for Patients and Consumers.